Senior pitcher Kiley Lythberg struck out a career-best fourteen batters Friday to out duel St. Scholastica’s ace pitcher as the Dutch earned a gritty 3-2 win; then followed that up with a 10-2 thumping of the Saints in the nightcap.

Lythberg tossed a complete game, scattering six hits and walking only one to improve her record to 9-1; while St. Scholastica’s Darcy Roach also allowed just six hits in the loss. Still, the Dutch once again had to come from behind to win, overcoming a 2-1 deficit to tie the game in the fifth inning and then taking the lead in the sixth.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Central’s Brie Haycraft was able to overcome giving up a lead-off home run to only allow three more hits while striking out five batters in four innings of work. Rhianna Fleetwood pitched the final inning for the save.

The Dutch got most of their offense early on, scoring eight runs in the first two innings, led by Caitlyn Meyer, Annie Sarcone and Bethany Koskamp, who each had two hits. Meyers scored a run and drove in four, Sarcone scored three times – including on a home run – and Koskamp was plated twice.

The Central softball team will face Wisconsin-Eau Claire this afternoon and try to extend their 22-game winning streak. The Bluegolds are 16-4 overall.